DeLauro Hears from Hamden Small Businesses

U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3, visited three Hamden businesses Friday, talking to business owners to find out what the federal government can do to help them weather the dismal economy.

"I'm delighted to be here today," DeLauro said after she arrived at on Dixwell Avenue, the last of her stops Friday afternoon. Earlier she visited and the restaurant, both on Whitney Avenue.

"The mayor and i visited a couple of small businesses downtown," she said. "We want to try to look at what are issues and the concerns are in this tough economy for small businesses and how can we look at policies that will help them make a difference, whether they are trying to expand or remodel or hire new employees, and what kinds of changes they have had to make because it's a very tough economy out there."

Some of those concerns she hears include difficulties in obtaining bank financing, health care costs, payroll taxes and the availability of tax credits that could help spur hiring and expansion, DeLauro said.

"Mainly we're here to listen to concerns of sm businesses so we can be better equipped to deal with initiatives that will directly help them to grow their businesses and to hire more people," she said.